Car or table transfer means



March 10, J KE CAR 0R TABLE TRANSFER MEANS Filed June 27, 1929 gmwnt o v 05hr) LDra/(e Patented Mar. 10, 1931 v I UNITED STATES ,PATE

NT oFFICE OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO i CAR OR TABLE TRANSFER MEANS a lication filed June 27, 1929. Serial No. 374,028.

This invention relatesto the grinding and polishing of sheet, or plate glass or other flat sheets or plates to be surfaced and more especially to an apparatus for this purpose of the so-called continuous type. a

Various systems for the continuous grinding and polishing of plate glass have heretofore been proposed and in practically all of such systems there have been provided a series of cars or tables mounted upon wheels and adapted to be rolled along tracks in a continuous train first under a series of grinding units andthen under a series of polishing units. a 7 a I In theparticular arrangement to which this invention is applied, three parallel tracks are employed, the two outside tracks being working tracks passing beneath a series of grinding and pollshlng runners and the s1ngle central track constituting the return track for bringing the cars or tables back to their startingposition on the working tracks The primary object of the present invention is the" provision of improved means for facilitatingthe handling of the cars or tables and more particularly for effectingthe transfer of said tables fromthe working tracks to I the return track or vice .versa .in a rapid and efficient manner. 7 1 I e Another object of the invention is the provision of novel transfer means of the: above character including a plurality of transfer tables at one or both ends of the parallel tracks, each transfertable being movable into operative relation with the central track and with one of the outside tracks. p: Other objects and advantages of theinvention will become more apparent during the course of the following description-when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. a

The drawing represents diagrammatically a top plan view of transfer apparatus provided by the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, three parallel tracks 5, 6 and 7 are employed, theoutside tracks 5 and 6 constituting the working tracks JOHN L. DRAKE, or TOLEDO, OHIO, AssIGNon TO LIBBEY-OWENS-FORD GLASS coMrANY; I

and the single central track 7 constitutingthe return track of the system. These tracks are adapted to carry a series of work cars or tables 8 upon the upper surfaces of which are secured glass sheets9 to be ground and polished. 1 w v r ,In practice, the glass sheets to be surfaced are secured upon the cars Sat the right hand end of working tracks 5 and 6 and are carried along these tracks beneath a seriesof grinding runners (notshown), and then be neath a series of polishing runners 10, the cars being preferably coupled togetherto form a continuous train. When the cars reach the left hand end of working tracksr5 and 6,. the

glass sheets are removed therefromand the" said cars are uncoupled,-and transferred to the 'return track 7 along which they are moved to the starting end of the working tracks.

. The present invention: contemplates the tween the tracks 5, 6 and 7 at one or both ends for transferring the cars from the working tracks to the return track or vice versa. This provision of improved transfer means betransfer means consists of'a pair of rotatable transfer or turn-tables 11 and 12, each table beinggcommon to the central return track 7 V and adapted to serve one of the outside working tracks 5 or 6 so that cars 8 may be alternately received 7 from the working tracks 5 and 6 and transferred to return track 7. i

Each of the transfer tables 11 and 12is of elongated formation and is provided with the curved or arcuate outer'ends 13 and 14 while the sides thereof are cut away or recessed as at 15 and 16, said recesses having thesame curvature as the ends 13 and 14. Thus, the

sides and ends of the transfer table are opp'ositely'curved and the reason for such a construction will be more clearly hereinafter apparent. Each transfer tablell and 12 carries adjacent the opposite ends thereof the two parallel-track sections 17 r and 18," said table being intermittently rotated by means of a motor 19 driving a pinion 20 meshing with ring gear 21 carried by said table. Each transfer table may also be supported upon aplurality of wheels 22 running upon an annular trackway 23.

The transfer tables 11' and 12 are so mounted that they are adapted to interengage one another and rotate in overlapping paths. When the tables are interengaged, one of said tables will bein operative position with respect to the return track 7 and its corresponding working track, while the other table will be in an inoperativepositicn with respectto both of its tracks. In other words the transfer table in operative position will extend transversely of said tracks while.- the other transfer table will extend longitudinally thereof and at right angles to the first table one end ofthe transfer table in operative position being received within the recess in the adjacent side of the other transfer table.

In carrying the invention into practice, the transfer table 11 is adapted to receive the carsv 8 from working track 5 and to deliver them onto the return track 7, while the transfer table 12' is provided to receive the; cars from working track 6 and deliver them onto return track'Z. During the operation of one transfer table, the other table is idle" so'tha t said tables are intermittently operated to receive cars alternately from the working tracks. 5 and 6 and deliver them to return track 7. For instance, when the transfer table 12" is in the position indicated in the drawing, the track sections 17 and 18 thereof are in registry with tracks'6 and 'T'respectivelyso that a car can be received on said transfer table from working track 6 and a carsimultaneously discharged therefrom onto return track 7 L When transfer table 12 is in such position, the transfer table 11. will extend at substantially right. anglesthereto and longitudinall'y between the tracks 5' and 7','the two tables being interengaged in: such. a manner that. the end 1 1 of the table 12is received within the recess 16, in the adjacent side of table 11.

After the car on the track section 18of the transfer table12'hasbeen moved; onto the return track 7 and another car moved from the working track 6 onto track section 17 of said .table,, the said transfer'table isrotated' a quarter ofa revol'ution in the direction indicated bythe arrow in the drawing and stopped, after which the transfer table 11 is rotated; in the opposite direction tobring the track sections 17 and 18 thereof into alignment with the tracks 5 andfire'spe'ctively so as to discharge a car onto the, return track and receive a car from the working track. The above cycle of operations is taenrepeated so that the relative positions of the transfer tablesll and 12 isialternatelyreversed: so as to transfer a car'first from one workingtrack to the return track and then from the other working track to said return track.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the snbj oined claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a plurality of parallel tracksadapted-to carry a series of cars or carriers, of a plurality of rotatable transfer tables provided at one. end of said tracks for transferring the cars from one track to an adjacent track, the paths of travel of said transfer tables overlapping one another.

2; The combination with a plurality of parallel tracks adapted to carry a seriesof cars or carriers, of a plurality of rotatable transfer tables provided at one end of said tracks for transferring the cars from one track to an adjacent track, said transfer tables being movable alternately intooperative position with respect to one of" said tracks.-

3. The combination with a plurality of parallel tracks adaptedtocarry a series. of cars or' carriers, of a plurality of rotatable transfer tables provided at one end of. said tracks for transferring; the cars from one track to an adjacent track, said tables being adapted to interengage one another:

4. The combination with a plurality of parallel? tracks adapted to carry aseries of cars orcarriers, of a plurality of rotatable transfer tables provided at one end of said tracks for transferring the cars from one track toan adjacent track, one of said transfer tables being in operative position. with resp'ectto the trackswhilei the other is in an inoperative position. 7 i

5.. The combination with a" pl urahty of parallel. tracks adapted, to carryaseries of cars. or carriers, of aplural'ity" of rotatable transfer tables provided at one end of said tracks for" transferring" the cars from. one track to an adjacenttrack, each ofsaid tra'ns fertables extending transverselyofthetracks when in operative position and longitudinal- 1y thereofwhen in inoperative position.

' 61 The combination with three parallel tracks for carrying a series ofc'ars orca'rriers, of a pair ofrotatable transfer tables atone end of said tracks, each of said tables being movable'into' operative position withrespect to the inside track and one. outside track.

7. The combination with three parallel tracks for carrying a series of c'arsor carriers, of a pair of rotatable transfer tables at one end of saidtracks, each of said tab'l es'being adapted toregister with the insidetrack and one outside track, one of said tables being in operativeposition while the othertable'is in an inoperative position at substantially right angles thereto.

8. The combination with three parallel tracks for carrying a series of cars or carriers, 1

of a pair of" elongated rotatable transfer tables at one end of said tracks, each of said tables being adapted to register With the in side track and one outside track, said tables being adapted to interengage one another with their paths of travel overlapping one another.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this 22nd day of June,

JOHN L. DRAKE. 

